Associate Graphic Designer/Production
About The Position
We are seeking an Associate Graphic Designer / Illustrator with a strong foundation in sports branding, licensed artwork, and apparel design to create compelling, production-ready graphics for licensed sports merchandise. This role bridges graphic design, illustration, and apparel construction knowledge, ensuring graphics are not only visually impactful but also engineered to work on garments across multiple fabrications and silhouettes. The ideal candidate understands how artwork translates from concept to finished garment and can partner closely with apparel designer, product developers, merchandiser, sales and licensors to deliver commercially successful, on-brand product.
Requirements
- 3-5 years of graphic design experience, preferably in licensed sports or apparel
- Strong illustration skills and typography sensibility
- Working knowledge of apparel construction, garment types, and production processes
- Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
- Experience designing for mass, specialty, and/or fan retail channels
- Sports brand storytelling & visual identity
- Apparel-driven graphic design
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with professional sports leagues, teams, or collegiate licenses
- Understanding of performance vs. lifestyle apparel applications
- Familiarity with overseas production workflows
- Ability to balance creative vision with commercial and cost constraints
Responsibilities
- Design original licensed sports graphics, illustrations, and typography for all relevant apparel categories (tees, fleece, jerseys, outerwear, sweaters)
- Interpret league, team, and brand style guides while bringing fresh, trend-relevant creative solutions
- Develop graphic series that support full line plan/assortments, not one-off designs
- Create production-ready artwork for multiple techniques (screen print, puff, HD, sublimation, applique, embroidery, heat transfer)
- Design graphics with an understanding of garment construction, pattern shapes, seams, and placements
- Partner with fit technicians, apparel designer and product development teams to ensure graphics align with body silhouettes, scale, and fit intent
- Adjust artwork for different garment types, fabric weights, and performance vs. lifestyle applications
- Anticipate production challenges related to print size, placement, stretch, and wash durability
- Collaborate with apparel design, merchandising, product development, sourcing, licensing and sales teams
- Support licensor review process by preparing clear, compliant artwork and presentation decks
- Participate in line reviews, concept kickoffs, and seasonal creative alignment meetings
- Revise artwork based on licensor, retailer, and internal feedback while maintaining creative integrity
- Prepare production-ready files with correct color separations, dimensions, and specs
- Understand and apply cost-effective graphic solutions aligned with target retails
- Support offshore and nearshore vendors with clear artwork packages and production notes
- Review strike-offs and lab dips for color accuracy and execution quality
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
